Atelier Live Dance Festival

More than a few heads were turned when the jam-packed line-up of Atelier Live’s Dance Arena festival was announced. Hang on, we said: you’ve got (deep breath) Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis, Jay Sean, Natasha Bedingfield, Taio Cruz, Skylar Grey, Edward Maya and the Sugababes’ Amelle playing on the same night? We’d like to be backstage for this one, please.
Billed as the ‘Middle East’s biggest musical festival’, the event’s name won’t be winning any points for originality. But the greatest surprise is the speed it all happened – the line-up was announced less than a month ago, with the 12-hour all-dayer taking place at Dubai Sports City on Friday April 6. So in preparation for the big day we thumbed up on the line-up (so you don’t have to), and chatted to one of the headliners,
Mr ‘Stereo Love’ Edward Maya.Ne-Yo
The American R&B star nominally heads this talent-packed bill. He’s been a household name since Billboard-topping 2006 hit ‘So Sick’. So many more hits followed that he was named as the 57th best-selling artist in America in the 2000s – despite only being in the charts for less than half of the decade. He lives a dual personality as songwriter-for-hire Shaffer Smith, and has penned scores of hit records for the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jay-Z and Mary J Blige.

Leona Lewis
Performing in the Middle East for the first time, Simon Cowell’s most successful protégé is the safest thing on the bill. With 20 million album sales under her belt, there can’t be a soul in the audience unfamiliar with mega-hit ‘Bleeding Love’. She told Time Out last year that she’s visited Dubai before, adding, ‘It’s so modern and it’s being built up. It’s amazing to see it happening. I think it would be cool to come back next year and see how far it has come.’ A wish that came true, clearly.

Jay Sean
Urban star Sean became the first Brit to top the US Billboard charts in decades with debut single ‘Down’. Also known for international smash ‘Ride It’, Sean is a repeat visitor to Dubai, whose last gig was at a sweaty Chi in February 2011. At the time he told Time Out: ‘I love Wild Wadi – love it. I also enjoy the Madinat, that’s quite a cool place to have dinner. And that big mall with the ski slope in it.’

Taio Cruz
Cruz is another Brit who’s managed to crack the US, selling 16 million records in just two years off the back of house super-hits ‘Break Your Heart’ and ‘Dynamite’. He’s visited Dubai before – playing N’Dulge last November – but when Time Out asked if it was his first time in the emirate, Cruz said he ‘couldn’t remember’.Tickets Dhs250-650. 2pm-3am, Friday April 6. Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City, www.timeouttickets.com

And my sources also tell me that plans for Keisha to release solo material ahead of the girls bursting back on the scene have been put on hold.

“Keisha’s put everything on the back burner with regards to her solo record. The girls have got together and they’ve produced the best music they’ve ever done,” my music industry mole reveals.

“To say everyone is excited about this comeback is an understatement. They’re going to take over the girl band scene with the new record.”

But they have one big decision to make yet – what to call themselves, as their manager holds the rights to the original moniker. The source adds: “They still don’t have a name. It can’t be Sugababes so they’ve got their thinking caps on.”

I really hope it doesn’t take too long – I can’t wait to have them back!

Heidi Range Interview

Lynda Moyo speaks to the Sugababe about Dancing On Ice, going solo and her former band mates

AS one third of the most successful female act of the 21st century according to British Hit Singles & Albums, it’s safe to say Heidi Range has always been the most likable of the wayward group.
She’s like Baby Spice was to the Spice Girls; the unassuming, non-offending, shut up and sing kinda gal. The sweet scouser who’s always managed to maintain a smile, even in the sulky Mutya and Keisha days.

“The one thing that’s remained through each line up is that it’s always been about the music and three girls who can sing. That’s how we’ve managed to survive."

But following yet another band line up change (Jade Ewen replaced Keisha Buchanan in 2009), it would seem not even the angelic Heidi has been able to stop tongues wagging about the future of the tumultuous trio, with some fans and critics alike questioning the group’s current authenticity.Sugababes, As They Were Then...
And so for Heidi, Jade and Amelle - the current line up - a change has been as good as a rest of late. Amelle has been working on solo material, Jade has been modelling for lingerie brand Ultimo and Heidi starred in this year’s Dancing On Ice and is about to embark on the show’s UK arena tour.
“We’ve not started training for the tour yet, that will start after the final show” she said, “I’m going back on the ice tomorrow though because you’ve got to keep it up otherwise you lose the feeling. I don’t want to get to the tour and be like Bambi again.”
More than just a bit of extracurricular activity, Heidi’s tears as she was voted off the show in week seven, proved her passion away from the confines of the famous girl group.
As well as growing in confidence during her time in the TV competition, her new found skater's figure didn’t go unnoticed by the nation’s glaring eyes either. However, she hasn’t got any magic dietary secrets to share with us unfortunately.
“When you’re training that often you do tone up more. I try not to eat too many carbs normally, but when we were training for four hours a day you need carbs so I was actually eating more bread and pasta than usual. You actually burn more calories skating than running.”Heidi and her new found figure
Looking ahead to the final, Heidi is of course backing home girl Jennifer Ellison to win “because she’s my friend”, but she can’t help but have equal amounts of respect for all the contestants from the show because, well, that’s just the kind of girl she is.
“They’re all doing so well,” she said, “As much as you love being part of the show, it is exhausting mentally and physically. I’ve had a two week break and they’re still going every day. So whoever wins I’ll be pleased for.”
Those same diplomatic sentiments apply for her former band mates it would seem, as talk turns to the rumour of Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan getting back together.
“It is true. They are reforming” she said, “But I think good luck to them. It doesn’t affect me and what I do.”
Fair point. Unless the old girls decide to go to war with Heidi, Jade and Amelle over the back catalogue and name, which Heidi admits is “our name but I don’t get into all that, our management deal with the legal stuff”, there really are little similarities to the two separate groupings - physically and vocally.
What they do share however, is the history of a band that has overcome ‘Catfights and Spotlights’ - ironically the name of their sixth studio album – to still be standing strong a decade on. But is this really still the Sugababes if there are no original members left?
“It’s Sugababes to me,” answered Heidi with no hesitation. “It’s evolved over the years. Like any job, people leave. I guess when it’s a band people are shocked by it, but over ten years people change, want different things and move on.
“The one thing that’s remained through each line up is that it’s always been about the music and three girls who can sing. That’s how we’ve managed to survive. It wasn’t about the personalities, it was about the music.”Sugababes, As The Are Now...
You have to give credit to Heidi - the longest serving member of the group - for being able to defend the band she’s grown up with, without sounding like fighting talk. She’s a peach. Soft and sweet on the outside, with a tough nut in the centre, not to forget the aforementioned shapely skaters derriere of course.
The fact she doesn’t have any contact with the old members of the band and her loyalty to Amelle and Jade who both cheered her on through Dancing On Ice, confirms there’ll be no chance of any kind of Sugababes six-piece super group.
“I don’t think so. I can’t see it happening if I’m honest,” she said, with a nervous laugh.
And so to the future. Although there are no immediate plans to get back into the studio with the girls, when it does happen, we should expect the unexpected according to Heidi. The same also applies for her future solo projects.
She said: “With all of our albums we’ve never planned a direction we’ve just gone in and tried different things and seen what works.”
“My life has been Sugababes for ten years so it’s nice to do other things for a while. I don’t have anything in the pipeline but I’m open to different things. I’m focussing on Dancing On Ice, but after the tour I’ll have a think about it all. Maybe a solo career, or TV work or even theatre.”
“I just want to enjoy what I’m doing and embrace different opportunities and challenges. I feel quite excited that I can now try different things.”
Peachy-keen that Heidi Range.The Dancing On Ice Tour kicks off in Newcastle on Friday 13 April. For full tour details and tickets click here.Follow Lynda on Twitter @lyndamoyo

About Me

Followers

The Jade Ewen Story so far...

Jade Almarie Louise Ewen (born 24 January 1988) is an English singer, songwriter, actress and member of the Sugababes. Ewen began her singing career in the girl group Trinity Stone signed to Sony BMG in 2005, but they disbanded in 2007 with no album released. In 2009, she represented the UK at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest performing the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Diane Warren penned "It's My Time" after winning the UK national selection. She achieved 5th place, cementing her as the most successful British Eurovision act since 2002. She replaced Keisha Buchanan in the Sugababes in September 2009, while at the time still signed to Polydor Records.

Ewen was born and brought up in Plaistow, London, to a Jamaican mother, Carol and a Scottish-Sicilian father, Trevor. Trevor is blind and partially deaf, while Carol is partially blind. Ewen was a carer to both her parents and two younger siblings, Shereen and Kiel.She received a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School. As a student at Sylvia, she appeared in The Bill, Casualty and Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle.Ewen also won the part of Nala in The Lion King at the West End at the age of twelve. Ewen appeared in the children's dance DVD, entitled How To Dance. She also featured briefly in the video for pop rock band Busted's "What I Go to School For".

Between 2003 and 2004 she appeared in the Australian series Out There. In 2005, Ewen became a member of the girl group Trinity Stone which was signed to Sony BMG. The group disbanded in 2007. She later recorded with rapper Kwamé, who was impressed with her work on MySpace. She released a digital single, "Got You" in 2008 under Kwame's Make Noise label. Ewen co-wrote the song "A Little Bit" for the girl group Booty Luv and also "Let Me Be Me" for Jessica Mauboy. In early 2009, Ewen acted in the first episode of the series, Myths.

In January 2009, Ewen was approached and participated in the UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. She was eventually selected to represent the UK with the song "It's My Time" composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber who accompanied her on piano onstage. Ewen was signed with Polydor Records in February and began working on her debut album. In May Ewen finished in fifth place, the highest placing for the United Kingdom since 2002.

In September 2009, it was announced that Ewen had joined the Sugababes as the replacement for Keisha Buchanan.While her second single, "My Man" had been released in the same week, promotional activities for the single were cancelled. Although the single still managed to reach #35 in the charts. In an interview with the BBC, Ewen confirmed her commitment to the Sugababes as her main priority and that her solo album was put on hold. "About a Girl" later debuted at number eight in the UK. Sweet 7 was released in early 2010 after multiple delays from late 2009, and charted at #14 on the UK albums chart. In late 2010 Jade was revealed as the new face of Miss Ultimo lingerie, modelling the lingerie fashion lines Autumn/Winter collection for 2010.

A Brief History of The Sugababes

Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Guinness Book of World Records have named the Sugababes as the most successful female act of the 21st century with six UK number one singles and eighteen UK top ten hits.

Sugababes were formed in 1998 by founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. In 2001, after just one album and some initial success, Donaghy departed and the introduction of Range in the same year was met with the commercial success. The group survived a second line-up change in December 2005, when Buena left the band and was subsequently replaced by Berrabah. In September 2009, it was confirmed that after eleven years in the band, Buchanan was no longer part of the group and had been replaced by Jade Ewen.